New Indian Status Cards Delayed, Old Cards Good at U.S. Port of Entry after June 1st
Onerahtohko:wa / May 12, 2009
Akwesasne, Ontario — The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) has learned that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has approved the new Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Secure Certificate of Indian Status as a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant document. MCA also learned that due to INAC’s delay in issuing the new Secure Certificate that there will be a period of flexibility that will permit travelers to continue using their current Certificate of Indian Status at the U.S. Port of Entry.
“This is encouraging news for many of our community members that use the current Indian Status Cards,” said Grand Chief Tim Thompson. He noted, “The period of flexibility is at the discretion of U.S. officials, but community members with the current Status Cards can be assured that they will be allowed to enter the United States after June 1st.
INAC is the process of launching a new Indian Status Card that addresses the need for increased security features. The current cards are laminated paper documents that are at risk of being forged or illegally reproduced. This has caused problems for First Nation individuals in accessing benefits and has created the need for a more secure and modern identification document.
In February 2009, INAC setup a Mobile Application Center in Akwesasne and in other border communities to begin taking applications for the new Status Cards. It was the first opportunity for INAC to test its application process in a live environment. Since then, it was determined that a quality assurance review was needed, which caused delays in the new card’s issuance date.
At this time, INAC cannot provide a specific date for when the new Secure Certificate of Indian Status will be available. In the meantime, MCA will continue to monitor the new card’s development and will share further updates on its progress when they become available.
For those individuals that have already applied for the new Status Cards, you are not required to reapply. The information collected at Mobile Application Center in February will be stored and processed once national implementation is started.
For more information on the new Secure Certificate of Indian Status, visit INAC’s website at www.inac.gc.ca.
